Improvement in devices for pressing hats



lc. M. csoon.

for Pressing Hats.

Device Patented Feb. 4,1873.

CHARLES M. OSGOOD, OF AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FQR PRESSING HATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 35,577, dated February 4,1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. OsGoon, of Amherst, in the county of Hampshire, State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Devices for Pressing' Hats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the a-rt to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specilication, in which drawing- Figure l represents a lon gitudinal vertical section of this invention in the plane .fr x, Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same in the plane y y, Fig. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of the same.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

My invention consists in blocking hats by means of an auxiliary male pressing-die, of India rubber or other suitable material, combined with the dies of a hat-press which are expanded by awedge advanced by a cam or other equivalent mechanism in such a manf ner that when ahat is placed between the dies and .the wedge advanced by a ca-m or other equivalent mechanism the elastic plug will be expanded, and the crown of the hat subjected to a uniform pressure.

In the drawing, the letter A designates the male die of a hat-press, and the letter B the female die. In the male die is fitted a wedge, C, which slides in and out, being prevented from dropping out by a stop of any suitable nature. Over this wedge is placed aplug, D, of India rubber or other soft and elastic maferial, which tits loosely into the crown part of the female die. The plug D is, by prefer ence, built up of layers of India rubber, thc lowest layer or layers being lmade to extend over the entire surface of the male die, and, after having been built up to the proper height and shape, the whole is vulcanized. The wedge C is exposed to the action of a cam, E, or to any other suitable lnechanism, which serves to force said wedge inward with considerable force.

In the drawing, I have represented a cam which is mounted on a shaft secured to the under surface of the male die, and provided with a handle, which serves to turn the cam and to raise the wedge or allow it to drop back to its original position.

The hat to be pressed is placed over the plug D of the male die, and then the female die is brought down so as to press the brim, and after the brim has been pressed the wedge G is forced in, whereby the plug D is expanded and the crown of the hat is exposed to a uniform pressure. By allowing the Wedge to recede the plug D contracts, andthe pressed hat can be readily taken oif.

Thus itwill be seen that myinvention is an improvement upon hat blocking machines such as employ an elastic cone for compressing the body of a hat between dies, while a metallic disk sari ouuds the cone and rests upon an elastic cushion, upon which metallic disk is compressed the brim of the hat. Such is not claimed by me, it being shown in I. Even hardts patent, dated June 23, 1568.

In my invention the body of the hat and the brim are compressed at one time upon a yielding bed, made preferably in one piece, thus insuring a uniform pressure, and by the additional feature in the employment of the wedge and its operating mechanism the body of the hat can be subjected to more pressure when deemed essential, without increasing that exerted upon the brim.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An auxiliary male pressing die, of India rubber or other suitable material, combined with the dies of a hat-press, and expanded by a wedge advanced by a cam or other equivalentl mechanism, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

CHARLES M. OSGOOD.

Witnesses:

L. D. HILLS, J. S. AMES.

FFICE. 

